Biography

My name is Josi. I was 31 years old when I was first diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia on June 20, 2007. On July 16th I was told that I was in relapse. My doctor had found leukemia cells in my spinal fluid. I am a Deputy District Attorney for the County of Sacramento. I had only been an attorney for 8 months when I was diagnosed. I was only 6 months away from finishing maintenance chemo when I relapsed. I am currently getting treated at the University of Minnesota BMT clinic. My treatment includes induction chemotherapy, intrathecal chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant. I am hoping/expecting to get an umbilical cord blood transplant. Please post comments on my blog, I’d love to hear from you! (especially anyone who has been through this!)

Cancer Symptoms

I had spots that looked like bruises on my skin and my left sinus was completely clogged. I had none of the traditional symptoms of leukemia. When I relapsed I was getting head rushes periodically throughout the day. A spinal tap confirmed blasts in my CSF.

Chemotherapy Description, Dates & Side Effects

I have 6 months of chemo:
1. Daunorubicin, Vincristine, Asparaginase, Prednisone
2. Cytarabine, Etoposide
3. Methotrexate
months 4, 5, and 6 are a repeat of months 1, 2, and 3. I also had 6 doses of intrathecal methotrexate (chemo injected into my spine).

I am getting cytarabine, methotrexate, and a steroid intrathecally. I think I’ll also get one round of high-dose cytarabine intravenously prior to transplant.

Comments:

This week we lost Miss Josi. She was a beautiful young woman, inside and out. It was clear that she lived her life outloud She loved her family, made many dear friends along the way, and served the citizens of Sacramento County well as a deputy district attorney. I’ve seen her in court many times. Our loss is Heaven’s gain!! I can see her there now, surrounded by angels singing, slightly off tune, of course!!

See you on the other side, Josi!! Thank you for your life lived well, although much too short for those who loved you! I will hold your family in prayer, Miss Josi, as you know they will be grieving your loss so deeply! Donna Gissing

Posted on December 28, 2009 at 7:18:45 PM by Donna Gissing (unverified)

We will miss you Josi Girl!

Posted on December 27, 2009 at 7:38:26 AM by janet

hey nice to talk to u a do know what u are going threw I was told that I have Cervical Cancer stage IIa in August 2009 so i have been going threw Chemo and Radiation. I am so srry to hear what u have gone threw so maybe we can support eachother

Posted on December 9, 2009 at 12:29:04 PM by jennifer schunk (unverified)

Dear Josi,
I have been following this wicked story via Suzanne. I am really pissed off that this has happened to you. YOu had more than enough fun last time and it stinks to have to go through treatment again. But I believe in your ability to make it through and get back to fighting crime.
Shall I send you a red cape? For a super hero crime fighter and cancer fighter. You could wear it to treatment. Then they might send for a psych consult but most staff would think it was a good idea.
Cape at the ready. Mentally or in real world. We are pulling for you. Call anytime.
Love
Peggy

Posted on August 4, 2009 at 6:38:59 PM by peggy hanley (unverified)